With Josh Hamilton and Zack Greinke off the board, the trickle-down effect on the rest of the 2013 free-agent market should result in a cascade of signings in the coming days.

To which the likes of Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn must be saying: It’s about time.

Players who reach the holidays still shopping for a team understandably become antsy as time—and club funds for free agents—begin to run short. We’re talking about some pretty good players, too, as you can see from this “all-star” team of the unemployed.

1B:Adam LaRoche. He believes hitting 33 homers, driving in 100 runs and winning a Gold Glove would result in a three-year deal. Mike Napoli, after all, scored three years and $39 million from the Boston Red Sox, and LaRoche had a far superior 2012.

The Washington Nationals, however, appear to be holding hard at two years. LaRoche might be able to extract three years from the Baltimore Orioles or, who knows, the Red Sox. Two weeks after Boston agreed to terms with Napoli, the sides have been unable to finalize the deal.

2B: Kelly Johnson. OK, not a wealth of talent remains around the rest of the infield. After Johnson hit .225 with 159 strikeouts, the Toronto Blue Jays sought an upgrade. They landed two by trading for Emilio Bonifacio and signing Maicer Izturis. About all that is certain for Johnson is that he’s looking at a pay cut after making $6.375 million.

SS: Hiroyuki Nakajima. Quality is so lacking at this spot that the best available player has never played in the majors. But Nakajima, 30, hit .311 with 13 homers in Japan last year. The Oakland A’s make an even likelier destination after Stephen Drew got $9.5 million from the Red Sox. GM Billy Beane has been adamant that the club will bring in someone from the outside to play regularly.

3B: Chone Figgins. Think he’s done? OK, how about Brandon Inge? Placido Polanco? These guys no longer are viewed as everyday players and likely will have to settle for minor-league deals shortly before spring training. They won’t be finding regular work with a contender. The top teams appear set at third base except for the Atlanta Braves, and they can move Martin Prado to play there if they decide to bring in a left fielder.

LF:Cody Ross. He’s used to waiting. Ross did not sign his one-year, $3 million deal with the Red Sox last year until the middle of January, and he had to take a $3.3 million pay cut. After a solid season that included 22 homers, Ross is operating from a strong stance this time around. He also has at least two big-money clubs, the Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, interested.

CF: Michael Bourn. He’s outta luck if he wants to play for a contender and score a mega deal. All the probable contenders appear set in center. The Seattle Mariners, however, have the money and the need to upgrade their offense. But will they pony up more for Bourn than the $75 million his previous team, the Braves, handed out to B.J. Upton? They shouldn’t have to.

RF: Nick Swisher. Word spread in late August that Swisher would be seeking a Jayson Werth-like deal, referring to his seven-year, $126 million contract with the Nationals. Swisher hasn’t confirmed—or denied—such a quest, but it doesn’t much matter. He’s not getting it. His best fit appears to be as Plan C for the Texas Rangers. But if they wouldn’t offer Hamilton $125 million, they’re not about to for Swisher.

C: A.J. Pierzynski. If his sometimes-abrasive personality is why he hasn’t signed, a bunch of teams will have missed out. Pierzynski is as durable as any catcher in the game, and he’s coming off his best offensive season. Besides, is the fact that he’ll never win a popularity contest among opponents a bad thing? More likely, teams are not willing to give a three-year deal to a 35-year-old who has caught more game than anyone since 2002. A return to the Chicago White Sox makes the most sense, though they might have to out bid the Rangers.

SP: Kyle Lohse. After Anibal Sanchez hit a $90 million jackpot with the Detroit Tigers, Lohse seems certain to do what seemed highly unlikely a year ago. That is, get a raise over his previous deal of four years and $41 million. The Los Angeles Angels don’t appear to be hurting for money and need at least one more proven starter. In Lohse, they would be getting the best one on the market based on stats over the past two years (30-11, 3.11 ERA).

RF: Rafael Soriano. Opting out of a contract that would have paid him $14 million in 2013 isn’t looking quite so shrewd with his options fading. The Tigers continue to insist they will go with rookie closer Bruce Rondon, and the New York Yankees remain intent on cutting payroll. If his agent, Scott Boras, can’t sway the Los Angeles Dodgers into making another big deal, Soriano could be left with a one-year offer for considerably less than what he would have made by staying with the Yankees.